It may surprise you that 75% of kids who watch sport think gambling is a normal part of sport1, but the truth is only 5% of adults actually bet on sport regularly2. What do you think makes gambling seem normal?

1 Thomas, S, Bestman, A, Pitt, H, Stoneham, M, and Daube, M, 2016, '"It's just everywhere!" Children and parents discuss the marketing of sports betting in Australia'. Australian New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Epub ahead of print.

Does your teenager talk about betting odds while watching or talking about sport?

Always

Most of the time

Occasionally

Never

Betting companies spent $236 million on advertising in 20154, so it’s hard to avoid. Instead of talking about the odds, encourage them to talk about the love of the game and who is (or isn’t) performing on the field.

Do you think your teenager recalls seeing many sports betting brands or advertising whilst at live sporting events?

Yes

No

When kids (8-16 years old) were asked where they remembered seeing sports betting advertising, 75% of kids recalled them at a sporting stadium1. Why do you think they do this?

1 Thomas, S, Bestman, A, Pitt, H, Stoneham, M, and Daube, M, 2016, '"It's just everywhere!" Children and parents discuss the marketing of sports betting in Australia'. Australian New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Epub ahead of print.

Next

How often would your teenager be exposed to gambling via gaming apps or games?

Always

Most of the time

Occasionally

Never

I don’t know

Research has shown that apps and games are making gambling more accessible, attractive, and socially acceptable to young people. These games promote misleading information about gambling, often paying out at a higher rate than real gambling ever does.6

Has your teenager ever tried gambling before?

Yes

No

You might be surprised to know that almost 1 in 5 kids (12-17 years old) had placed a bet on sport at least once during 20115. More than 1 in 4 kids (12-17 years old) had placed a bet on the horses or greyhound races over that same time. With the increase in promotion in recent years you would expect these figures to be higher now.

Let’s start the conversation today to help our kids love the game, not the odds.

Gambling advertising is changing the way we see sport. The amount of gambling advertising we are being exposed to on a daily basis would make it seem like gambling is now just a normal part of sport. By making it seem normal the risks are often not considered, and people can end up experiencing gambling-related harm.

Young people, especially can be at risk of gambling related harm because they don’t always realise the difference between ads and reality, and may see betting as a quick, easy way to make money.

We want all sporting fans to remember to love the game for what it is and take the focus off betting.

The foundation is proud to partner with over 270 local grassroots clubs and elite sporting clubs who are part of our Love The Game program. If you belong to a local grassroots sporting club, you can help make your club a safe, healthy place for your members by joining our Sporting Club Program.